Volunteering

Did you know that over 500 people volunteer their time and energy to support many of our programs and services? Our volunteers come from all walks of life—business people, community leaders, students, parents and retirees. Whether you want to help others, gain valuable experience, share your own skills or make new friends, we may have just the right thing for you. Help for a day at a special event, be part of a project for a few weeks or contribute to a longer-term service.

Volunteer orientation

All successful volunteer applicants must attend an orientation session prior to starting as a volunteer. This ensures that all our volunteers receive information about volunteering within the council Volunteer Program and are prepared prior to starting their volunteer role. This Volunteer Orientation Handbook provides further details about being a volunteer with the City of Onkaparinga.

The Office for Volunteers provides advice to the Minister for Volunteers and delivers support programs that contribute to the government’s priorities of building the capacity of community organisations to be sustainable in years to come, and encouraging all citizens to participate in community life and care for each other.

It also has a key role in implementing the Advancing the Community Together (ACT) Partnership, a landmark agreement between the volunteer community and state government, to work together to support the development of volunteerism in South Australia. Their website provides a variety of information to support volunteering across the community

Southern Volunteering (SA) Inc provides a vital leadership role in advancing volunteering through service delivery, promotion, advocacy and support for individuals and the community. They provide the following services:

Information on volunteering opportunities and roles available in the southern suburbs of Adelaide

Training, information and support for not-for-profit organisations in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia including the Fleurieu Peninsula

Its mission is to promote and celebrate volunteering and play a key leadership role in advancing volunteering by providing an extensive range of services, support and resources for volunteers and volunteer organisations. Key services include:

Volunteer Referral Service: Experienced interviewers talk to potential volunteers about their interests and skills, options for volunteering and are linked with organisations that need volunteers.

Training, Support & Professional Development: Providing training and support to Volunteers, Volunteer Managers and Volunteer Coordinators in areas such as volunteer management, how to recruit young volunteers, teamwork, enhancing customer service skills and many more.

Policy & Research: Advancing and encouraging research into volunteering in South Australia and the Northern Territory, to aid the development of methodologies and understandings of volunteering processes and practices. Volunteering SA&NT also provides policy advice to the volunteer sector and other volunteering peak bodies, interstate and overseas.

Working with Targeted Populations: Promoting inclusion in the volunteer sector, advancing volunteering in Aboriginal and wider Australian communities and offering supported volunteer placements for ex-offenders and volunteers with a disability.

Environmental volunteering

Our Nature Conservation team also works in close partnership with organisations such as Trees for Life and the NRM board to to protect and restore areas of bushland and coastal vegetation in our city.